Apparatus for purifying steam



March 14 1944-. gsc I 2,3413%? APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING STEAM v FiledAug. 31, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l ga z M INVENTOR I Near/N fie/5c BYATTORNEY March 3141, 1944. M FRISCH APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING STEAM.

Filed Aug. 51, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR NeeT/A/ fk/SCH ATTORNEYMarch 114, 1944,

M. FRISCH APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING STEAM Filed Aug. 51, 1940 4Shee'ts-Sheet f5 lNViZNTOR M U m M ATTORNEY March 14, 11944. M FRISCH2,343,897

APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING STEAM Filed Aug. 31, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4'Patented Mar. 14, 1944 2,343,897 APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING STEAM MartinFrisch, New York, N. Y., as'signor to Foster Wheeler Corporation, NewYork, N. Y a corporation of New York Application August 31, 1940; SerialNo. 354,932

6 Claims.

This invention relates to steam generators and more particularlypertains to the purification of steam.

The invention provides novel apparatus for the washing and drying ofsteam in a steam drum of a steam generator whereby the steam will bepurified before being superheated or conducted to the point of use.

One advantage of the invention is that the flow of steam and waterthrough the washing apparatus is in the same general direction at verylow velocities which results in an improved washing action. In the moreconventional horizontal type of bubble tray steam washers, the steam andfresh feed water flow at right angles to each other, and the velocitiesare necessarily high because approximatelybut one-third of the tray areais available for steam flow into and out of the washer. With the presentinvention, practically the entire washer area is available for steamflow, thus making low steam velocities possible. Another advantage ofthe invention is the accessibility of the apparatus for inspection andcleaning, the arrangement being such that free access through doorsprovided for the purpose may be had to the interior of the drum and tothe washing elements withwt the need of dismantling any portion of theapparatus.

The invention will be understood from the following descriptionconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a partthereof, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view, taken on line ll of Fig.2, of a steam drum of a steam generator having one form of apparatusembodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal view of the invention partly inelevation and partly in section on line 22 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal longitudinal view partly in elevation and partlyin section on line 3--3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view of part of theapparatus;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal longitudinal sectional view taken on line 5-5 ofFig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective illustrating details of the apparatus.

Like characters of reference refer to the same parts in the severalviews.

Referring to the drawings, reference character in designates a steamdrum of a steam generator to .which is connected a group of steamcirculating tubes l I, a group of downcomer tubes [2, and one or moresteam outlet nozzles or connections I3. A main feed water pipe l4extends longitudinally through the lower portion of the drum and issecured by U bolts l5 to supporting brackets 16 as shown in Figs. 1 to 3of the drawings. The pipe it is provided with flanged nozzle connectionsl1, l8 and I9, 20 respectively, at points adjacent the opposite ends ofthe drum. Also extending longitudinally through the drum is a chemicalfeed pipe 2| which in operation discharges through a plurality of smallorifices 22 into a drain trough.23, which is disposed in the lowercentral portion of the drum, and is supported by upright brackets 24.Connected to the nozzles l1, l8 and I9, 20 are vertically extendingmanifold pipes 25, 26, 21 and 28 respectively, which are disposedadjacent opposite sides of th drum. These manifold pipes are closed attheir upper ends by caps 29 and are arranged to distribute fresh feedwater to four groups of vertically spaced horizontal feed tubes 30, 3|,32 and 33 which extend longitudinally of the drum from the manifoldpipes, to which theyare respectively connected, to a point midwaybetween the drum wall, are groups of vertically arranged spaced channelmembers 35 and 36 respectively, which are secured adjacent their lowerends to support members 31 by bolts 38. The members 31 rest upon shorttransverse plates 39 which are welded to the wall of the drum (Fig. 4)and are secured to the adjacent channel members by rivets 44. At theirupper ends, the channels 35 and 36 are secured respectively tolongitudinally extending supporting end plates 4| and 42 which arewelded to the drum wall. The channels 35 and 36 are curved to conformwith the contour of the inner cylindrical surface of the drum, and

they are spaced a short distance therefrom as shown in Fig. 3. The groupof channels at the left of the drum as seen in Fig. l, is somewhatlonger than the group of channels at the right. Certain of the channelmembers are provided with a plurality of spaced bosses 43, which aredrilled and tapped to receive the threaded ends of washer assemblysupporting bolts 45. These boltsand the bosses support oppositelydisposed banks of longitudinally extending trays or reservoirs 46 andbaflles 47 in operating relationship with the channel members and thegroups of feed tubes 30, 3|, 32 and 33.

The trays 46 have upwardly extending sides or weirs 48 and 49. Thebaffles 41 are inverted channels as shown, and are disposed in spacedrelationship to the trays below with one leg 50 between the sides of thetrays 66 with the lower edge below the upper edge of the tray sides andwith the other leg 5| shorter than the leg 50 and disposed beyond thetray side 49. The tubes 30,,

3|, 32 and 33 are disposed adjacent the inner face of the side 48 of thetrays 4B and are welded at spaced intervals to the upper part of theside u. The bolts 4: extend through openings in both legs of the baflies41. The trays 46 are supl rted bythe bolts through supllorting lu s 52which are welded to the outer face of side 46 of the trays 46, and lugs53 which are welded to the sides of the feed tubes at their lower endsand have spacing sleeves 54 welded to their upper ends, the length ofthese sleeves being such that the legs 66 of the baiiles 4'! aredisposed in the desired positions intermediate the feed tubes andthesides 46 of the trays. A spacing sleeve 55 extends between the legs 50and ii of the bailles 41, and this sleeve passes through openings in thelugs 52 which are welded to the tray sides 49. with this arrangement,the bolts 45 support the entire washer assembly on the channel members35.

Below the lowermost trays 46 of each group of trays and adjacent thelower. ends of the channel members 35 and 36 on both sides of the drumiii. are horizontallongitudinally extending plates 56 which aresupported by brackets 51 secured to the transverse plates 39. Theseplates extend from a point adjacent the channel members to a pointbeyond the trays 46 as shown in Fig. 4. Spanning the space between theplates 56, is a floor or substantially horizontal partition comprisingplates 56, 60 and 6|, which extend longitudinally of the drum for thelength of the washer assembly. These floor plates 55, 66 and 6i aresupported by a plurality of spaced transverse J members 62 which-aresecured at their ends to the plates 39 Fig. 3), and brackets 63, 64 and65 which are secured to'the members 62. As shown;

the plates 55 and 6| are inclined toward the center of the floor tocause the feed water and condensate to flow toward the center of thefloor. Spaced along the longitudinal center line of the drum, are aplurality of drain pipes 66 which lead from the-center of the floor tothe trough 23 in the lower portion of the drum.

In the form shown, steam drying means are disposed in the path of thesteam after it flows from the washing means. Any suitable means may beemployed for drying the steam, but preferably a plurality of closelyspaced plates are employed which are shaped or spaced or both, to causethe steam to change its direction of flow more or less abruptly toeliminate entrained moisture therefrom. The drying means shown comprisesa row of spaced, intermeshing acute angled plates 61 (Figs. 1 and 3)which are supported by the floor plates 60 and are secured at theirupper ends to vertically inclined plates 66 which are attached tobrackets 69. The bracket 69 for the left hand group of dryer plates 61(Fig. 1) is secured by bolts 10 to a fixed supporting bracket H adjacentthe upp r ends of the channel members 35, while the brackets 69 for theright hand group of dryer plates 61 is secured by bolts I2 to a fixedbracket I3 adjacent the upper ends of the channel members '36.Perforated plates 14 extend between and are secured to the brackets Hand I3. These plates are inclined to the horizontal toward the centerof'the drum. The

washing and drying apparatus is separated from the ends and lowerportion of the drum by end pla es 15 which are suitably secured to thedrum and to the floor thereby providing a compartment in the drum forthe washing and drying are disposed opposite the ends of the circulatortubes, and the mixture of steam and water issuing from these tubes impines up n t e c annel walls, whereby a substantial portion of theentrained Water will be removed from the steam. and willdrain down thewalls of the channels to the body of circulating water in the lowerportion of the drum, it being understood that the channel members arenot closed at their lower ends as they are at their upper ends. Thesteam which has thus been freed of entrained boiler water by thechannels flows through the spaces between the sides of adjacentchannels, and enters the tray assembly through the spaces betweenadjacent upper and lower trays as indicated by the flow arrows in Fig.6. Fresh feed water which is discharged continuously through theorifices 34in the feed tubes, fills each tray 46 and flows over the topof the tray side 46 and collects on the floor, whence it is conducted bythe drain pipes 66 to the drain trough 23 adjacent the bottom of thedrum. The water flows across the trays from the feed pipes to the sides49. The steam flows across the trays with the water thereon, but isforced under the surface of the body of flowing water on each tray bythe leg of the baille 41, the lower end of which is submerged in thewater on the tray. The steam flowing at a relatively low velocity isthus brought into intimate contact with fresh feed water flowing in thesame direction, and any entrained boiler water or-moisture of anundesirably high solid concentration will be removed from the steam andreplaced by the fresh feed water of a low solid concentration.

That portion of the steam which is released in the drum and does notdirectly "enter the washing trays adjacent the channels 35 will flow beth sameas previously described. The washed steam from the washing trayswill flow through the restricted lanes between the plates of the dryingapparatus 67, and in its passage therethrough entrained moisture willberemoved both by impingement against walls of the angle members, and bycentrifugal force resulting .-from the abrupt changes in direction offlow the steam is required to make. The water thus removed from thesteam will drain down the walls of the plates 61 and will collect on thefloor and will flow into the drains 66. The steam which is now in arelatively dry condition collects in the steam space between the dryingmeans and thereafter flows through the perforated distributing platesI4; The passage of the steam through a multiplicity of smallperforations in the plates 14 has a final drying eifect on the steambefore it leaves the drum throughthe steam outlets l3. The perforationsalso cause the steam to flow evenly across and out of the washer and thedrying means.

With this arrangemenh'it will be perceived that the steam is washed bycausing it to flow through a body of fresh feed water which flows in thesamegeneral direction as the flow of steam and that practically theentire washer area is available for steam flow, whereby the relativevelocity of steam and water flow is very low which provides a longertime of contact between the steam and water, resulting in improvedwashing action.

If desired, steam or a mixture of steam and water may be introduced intothe drum opposite the channel members 36, similarly to the manner it isintroduced through the tubes Ii opposite the channels 35. Additionally,the drying means may be omitted if desired, or any other type or kind ofdrying means may be utilized. Other changes may be made in the form,location and relative arrangement of the several parts of the apparatusdisclosed, without departing from the principles of the invention, whichis not to be limited excepting by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. Apparatus for washing steam. comprising enclosingmeans, a tray disposed in said enclosing means, a supply pipe in thetray at one side thereof and fixed thereto, means for supplying water tosaid pipe, the pipe having apertures therein through which water flowstherefrom and through the tray, supporting lugs secured to the pipe, aninverted -U-shaped baflle above the tray and in spaced relationshipthereto and having a leg extending into the water in the tray,supporting lugs secured to the opposite side of the tray,

' means for supplying steam to the tray at the spaced relationshipthereto and having one leg extending into the water in the trayintermediate the pipe and the opposite side thereof andthe other legdisposed beyond the opposite side of the tray, lugs on the opposite sideof the tray, spacing means between the legs of the baflie, threadedmeans extending through the legs of the baiiie, said lugs and spacingsleeve for supporting the tray and the baiiie, and means for supplyingsteam to the tray at the supply pipe side thereof.

3. Apparatus for washing steam comprising means forming an enclosure,means for delivering steam to a portion of the interior of theenclosure, a plurality of superposed trays disposed in spacedrelationship and positioned to receive steam at one side portion thereoffrom said portion of the enclosure, means for continuously deliveringwater ,to said one side portion of the trays for flow thereover to theother side portion thereof, the bottom of a tray forming the top of asteam passage between the tray and means forming an enclosure, spaced,substantially vertically disposed channel members having the channelportion thereof opening into a portion of the interior of the enclosure,means for delivering steam into the channel portion of said channelmembers for impingement therewith and thence into said portion of theenclosure, a plurality pr superposed trays disposed in spacedrelationship and positioned to receive steam at one side-portion thereoffrom said portion of the enclosure, means for continuously deliveringwater to said one side portion of the tray for flow thereover to theother side thereof, and means disposed above the tray in spacedrelationship thereto to provide a steam passa e above the tray incommunication with said portion of the enclosure and having a baiiiemember extending downwardly therefrom into the water on the tray tocause the steam to flow from said passage into and through the water onthe tray below and beyond said member and in substantially the samedirection with the water toward the other side of the tray.

5. Apparatus for washing steam comprising means forming an enclosure,spaced, substantially vertically disposed channel members hav ing thechannel portion thereof opening into a portion of the interior of theenclosure, means for delivering steam into the channel portion of saidchannel members for impingement therewith and thence into said portionof the enclosure, a plurality of superposed elongated trays disposed inspaced relationship and mounted on said channel members, the trays beingpositioned to receive steam from said portion of the enclosure, meansfor continuously delivering water to said one side portion of the trayfor flow thereover to the other side thereof, and means disposed abovethe tray in spaced relationship thereto to provide a steam passage abovethe tray in communication with said portion of the enclosure and havinga baflie member extending downwardly therefrom into the water on thetray to cause the steam to flow from said passage into and through thewater on the tray below and beyond said member in substantially the samedirection with the water toward the other the tray immediately below,which passage is in co unication with said portion of the interio of theenclosure, and a baiile member extending downwardly from the bottom of atray into the water. in the tray below to cause the side of the tray.

6. Apparatus for washing steam comprising means forming an enclosure,means for deliver- 1m; steam to a portion of the interior of theenclosure, a plurality of superposed trays disposed in spacedrelationship and positioned to receive steam at one side portion thereoffrom said portion of the enclosure, means for continuously deliveringwater to said one side portion of the trays for flow thereover to theother side portion thereof, the bottom of a tray forming the top of asteam passage between the tray and the tray immediately below, whichpassage is in communication with said portion of the interior of theenclosure, and a U-shaped baiile mounted on the bottom of a tray, oneleg of the baiiie extending into the water on the tray below to causethe steam to flow from said passage into the water on the tray and insubstan-' tially the same direction therewith toward the other side ofthe tray. the other leg of the baiiie extending downwardly outside thetray below and adjacent said other side of the tray.

1 MARTIN FRIBCH.

